Rangers counting on these talented pitching prospects not to strike out

By T.R. Sullivan

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

The Rangers wanted Thomas Diamond to work from the stretch position. Walking the leadoff hitter in an Instructional League game against the Oakland Athletics organization allowed him to do just that.

As Diamond went into the stretch, the runner broke for second base. Diamond, caught off guard, stumbled and fell off the mound.

The Athletics broke out in unrestrained laughter in their dugout.

Undaunted, Diamond picked himself up and walked purposefully toward the Athletics dugout, staring at his opponents.

"Don't you ever laugh at me again," Diamond said menacingly. "Understand?"

To punctuate his point, Diamond knocked the next hitter down with his first pitch, a fastball up and in.

Diamond then struck out the side on nine pitches.

"My attitude on the mound is not pretty," Diamond said with a smile, recalling the game from last October in Arizona. "I'm not a nice guy on the mound. If I'm working on something, I don't appreciate people making jokes.

"When I heard [the laughter], it triggered something inside. I wasn't going to stand there and take that stuff."

That's the kind of attitude the Rangers love and will need if they are going rebuild their pitching staff with the young players they have acquired in recent years.